Families do not need to be Clark County residents to adopt children through Clark County Family and Children Services. For foster care, an inquirer living in an adjoining county of Clark County may fill out an application. However, those families living outside of an adjoining county should contact the local county agency to get more information.

If children cannot remain safely within their own home, the agency will work with the children’s family to develop a temporary, safe living arrangement. If this is not possible, the agency may contact Clark County Juvenile Court to request removal of the child(ren) from the home.

In some cases, families voluntarily seek help from Clark County Family and Children Services to find their child(ren) a home until a family crisis subsides. The rules affecting children entering into foster care are set and monitored by federal and state laws.

First, families go through a free home study with Clark County Family and Children Services. The home study includes education, self-evaluation to help families prepare to adopt a child who needs a loving home, and the following (but not limited to): - 39 hours of training - Background checks and references - Fingerprinting - Fire inspection

- 21 years old or older - Able to provide a safe and healthy home for a child - Desire to work closely with other team members to help a child and restore a family - Enough living space for a child - Income sufficient to meet the basic needs of the household - Married or single

Money that is available to help adoptive families care for adopted children. An eligibility specialist helps determine the amount that a family may receive. Children Services can assist families with adopted children until they turn 18. The agency may be able to assist children who qualify as developmentally delayed as defined by Developmental Disabilities of Clark County until age 21.

This depends on a variety of factors. Children are matched with a foster family based on preferred characteristics such as: age, gender and special needs. By following the stated preferences as much as possible, the agency works to establish successful placements.

This depends upon the child’s birth family and the progress made toward resolving issues in their home. Typically, children remain in foster care no longer than 12 months. After this time, the agency proceeds with establishing alternative permanency plans, which include, but are not limited to, adoption, planned permanent living and/or independent living.

These children need love, affection and guidance. They represent all ethnic groups and ages, from infants to teens. Some may have disabilities and require special care. Others may have brothers and sisters who need to be placed together. They may be teenage mothers who need temporary homes for themselves and their children.

Overall, families must: - Love and understand children and want to make a lifetime commitment to parenting a child in need - Want to share their time and family life and give a child a place to call home - Be flexible, responsive and understand that there may be challenging times — and that the rewards last a lifetime

- Support to the child and family member(s) while they are at the CAC - Information about therapeutic services for children, caregivers, and other family members - Assistance communicating MDT recommendations to family member(s) including information about medical exams. - Referrals and support during medical exams. - Follow-up with ongoing support and referrals through regular phone contact; track family's progress and use of therapeutic services - Victim Advocacy Information and Support –which includes: Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program and Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) information

- During the Interview - Meet with family member(s) to offer support, answer questions, and provide information - After the Interview - Provide family members(s) with specific referrals for medical and therapeutic services based on recommendations of MDT; answer questions about medical exams - Post-Interview Teaming - collaborate with team on recommendations - Any time these services would be helpful to the family - Services can be requested at any time during or after a CAC interview

The Clark County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) serves children from birth to 18 years of age or those under 21 who are intellectually disabled. The children are referred to the CAC by child welfare and law enforcement agencies. We work to provide a coordinated community response to victims of: - Domestic Violence - Felony Level Physical Abuse - Human Trafficking - Sexual Abuse and Exploitation - Witness of a Violent Crime

During a child abuse investigation, experts from several agencies must talk with the child. Before the Clark County Child Advocacy Center existed, children were taken back and forth among child welfare offices, police departments, medical clinics, and therapists. Learn how the CAC changes that.

There is no fee for services provided by the CAC. The Center is funded by a variety of in-kind and grant resources, which include: - Job and Family Services of Clark County - National Children’s Alliance - Ohio Attorney General’s Office-Victims of Crime - Springfield Foundation - Turner Foundation (Rocking Horse Center Grant)

As a non-profit agency, the CAC hosts fundraising events and depends on donations to help support the services that we provide.

The unique centralization of the multidisciplinary agencies allows the team to share information, coordinate their services and streamline the investigative process.

However, as every case is an open child abuse investigation, confidentiality is a primary concern. Each agency signs an inter-agency agreement that permits the agency to share information with other team members.

Case information is not released to anyone other than team agencies unless by court order. The CAC's administrative staff does not acknowledge inquiries about scheduled appointments or whether a child has been seen or not. The CAC refers all such requests to the case investigators.

Parties have 60 days from the date of signing an affidavit to sign a rescission to cancel it. If after 60 days a rescission has not been signed, either party has one year to file a motion with the court for paternity testing.

Enforcement action may include (but is not limited to) the issuance of an income withholding order or administrative and legal action for noncompliance. When an income source is located for an obligor who resides in another state, the state that issued the support order may send a direct income withholding order to this source. If it becomes necessary to take administrative or legal action against the obligor, the obligee may either work directly with the state that issued the support order or contact his or her local CSEA to initiate action with CSEA in the obligor’s state of residence.

The obligee may choose to work with his or her local CSEA or work directly with the state that issued the order. To avoid confusion, the obligee should choose one or the other—not both. Some states will only communicate directly with the initiating state if the obligee chooses to apply for child support services with the local CSEA.

This varies depending on what action is necessary. If an interstate request is made for enforcement of another state’s order—and legal action is needed—it may take several months for the case to reach court. Your local CSE will closely monitor the status to assure timely action is taken.

Some states allow testimony by telephone. This pertains to administrative hearings held at CSEA as well. If you are scheduled to appear at an out-of-state hearing, please contact CSEA as to whether telephone testimony is permitted.

First, you need to ask for a review and adjustment. If it is found that the child is receiving more in Social Security benefits than what the court would order, you would not be ordered to pay support. If you owe arrears, you would be required to pay that.

However, if it is found the child is not receiving more than what would be ordered by the court, you would be ordered to pay support. If you owe arrears, you also would be required to pay that.

If an individual was paying on arrears prior to terminating support, the amount paid on that arrearage is added to the amount that was paid monthly for support. This process is mandated by the State of Ohio and provides for a quicker repayment of the money that is owed.

- All information shared is confidential, within limitations of the abuse and neglect law - Introductions - Overview of the reason for referral; headed by the referral source, aka team leader - Family’s reported needs and concerns - Open question and answer format from the team working together with the family - Review action plan/outcomes with the Family Stability Coordinator - Written action plan/outcomes of the meeting while it is the Committee’s understanding that the team leader/referral source will continue to support the family in carrying out the plan.

- Problem solve through difficult situations and barriers - Work together with the members of the Family Stability team - Learn about different resources in Clark County - Connect children, families and caregivers to resources in Clark County - Ensure the safety and stability of children and their families

A person may qualify for benefits if the household’s gross monthly income is within 130% of the federal poverty guidelines and within 100% of the poverty level after all allowable expenses (net adjusted income), and if the person’s resources such as cash, savings, stocks, etc., do not exceed $2,000 ($3,000 if a person is at least 60 years old or disabled). The income and resource limits do not apply if each person in the household receives income from any of the following programs: - Ohio Works First (OWF) - Ohio’s Disability Financial Assistance (DFA) - Ohio’s Disability Medical Assistance (DMA) Program - Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Resources of an SSI or OWF household member are excluded. The income and resource limits do not apply if at least 1 person in the household is authorized to receive or receiving benefits or services from the Prevention, Retention, and Contingency (PRC) Program.

Some individuals will be ineligible for food stamp benefits. For example, able-bodied adults without dependent children who are not employed or who are not participating in a work program will be ineligible for benefits after receiving 3 months of benefits in any 3-year period, unless the individual is residing in a county that is currently waived from this work requirement or the individual becomes employed or participates in a work program. Individuals who are required to work but have failed to comply with the work program are ineligible.

Allowable expenses include medical expenses for individuals 60 years of age or older; or who are considered disabled; dependent care expenses; legally-obligated child support; and shelter costs such as rent, mortgage, property taxes, gas and electric.

Items such as income and expenses will require verification at the time of application. Normal processing requires that benefits be issued or the application denied within 30 days after the date the application is filed. But if the household has little or no income and resources, the household may be eligible to receive benefits right away even if all of the information can not be verified quickly. However, identification is required at the time of application.

Depending on the household’s situation, a review (re-certification) of continued eligibility for food stamp benefits is generally required every 6 to 12 months. Reviews will occur more often if the household is experiencing a lot of changes or has earned income. Elderly and disabled households with no earned income will have a review of their eligibility once every 24 months.

Medicaid is a public health care program funded by the state and federal government. It provides necessary health care coverage to certain individuals with limited income. In Ohio, a person is entitled to Medicaid health care coverage for free or at a low cost if they meet specific income and eligibility requirements. As an entitlement program, the state cannot limit the number of eligible persons enrolled in Medicaid or deny access to medically necessary services to control costs.

Ohio Medicaid provides health care coverage to children, pregnant women, families, adults age 65 and older and people with disabilities. Some consumers may need to pay monthly premiums or copays for certain services. Learn more about the covered groups.

Once enrolled, consumers can get health care services from a Medicaid provider who accepts Medicaid as health insurance. This is generally called fee-for-service Medicaid. Consumers may be required to get their services from a Medicaid managed care plan. Both fee-for-service Medicaid and the managed care plans provide all medically necessary primary, specialty and emergency care, and preventive services.

Ohio Medicaid also provides both home health care and facility-based services for those consumers requiring long-term care services. Home care services allow consumers to remain in their homes and communities. Long-term care services are also available for consumers needing care in nursing homes and facilities for persons with mental retardation. Alternatives to institutional care are offered through home and community-based services waivers (e.g., PASSPORT, Ohio Home Care).

Ohio’s Medicaid Program includes services mandated by the federal government as well as optional services Ohio has elected to provide. Some services are limited by dollar amount, the number of visits per year, or the setting in which they can be provided. With some exceptions, all medically necessary services are available to all Medicaid consumers. View details on Federally Mandated and Ohio’s Optional Services.

Resources include a current listing of job openings in Clark and surrounding county one-stops. One-stop services include free access to computers, internet, fax machines, telephones, workshops and much more. Many agency partners are onsite to assist with all your employment needs by offering programs such as: